Montgomery County sentinel., 1887-12-30
miscellaneous.
LOVE FINDS A WAY.

itoouiiO uHu L WtTc e6uteu III tue COSY
back parlor looking over our wardrobos.
| had an array of faded old dresses that
| had turned and made over and dyed
until there was nothing else could be
done to them. Rosalie, who was the
pet of the family, exulting in the pos
session of q new white muslin, and |
must say was little jealous
We expected visit from our cousin
Dale Ardavan, and were rather ashamed
of our poor little house and surround
ings. Rosalie always appropriated him
for herself, as she had done everything
since | was baby. but I liked the big,
manly fellow just the same.
If Dale noticed our shabbiness he said
nothing about it when he came. saw
very little of him, as taught the vii
lage school. but he was generally on
hand to speak kind word when |
started out. Rosale and he spent W hole
days together, and it looked very much
like match would result
One morning as they were starting off
to go to picnic he stopped me with an
earnest look on his face.
"Why will you work yourself to
death p he said Better come with
US to the woods"
But | shook my head | could not
tell him that mother and Rosale were
dependent upon my efforts. All day in
the hot school room his kindly eyes fol-
lowed and cheered me.
In the afternoon, just as recess was
over, terrible storm came up and /
had all could do to reassure the chill
dren, who were crying around me. |
began to pray, for was terribly fright
ened at the thunder. The next mo-
ment there was fash of lightning and
the roof Of the schoolhouse fell in.
| can remember being picked up in
some ones strong arms and feeling tears
upon my face, and lips pressed to mine
then all was blank again.
But one morning-oh, sweet, blessed
relief! opened my eyes on our homely
little room, never before paradise to
me. Everything was still, so very still,
and | slowly took in each familiar OBJ
ject. Seated by the window, his face in
his hands. was Dale Ardavan.
Dale" said. in a thin, weak voice,
surely not my voice, "come here"
He started forward, but checked the
words that rose to his lips, and came
and knelt quietly by the bedside, aud |
am sure that there was something moist
in the pitiful. wasted hands he bent over,
but he said never word.
dale" [ went on questioningly,
scarcely positive yet as to my identity,
~ have been very ILL.,"
Eyes, very i'll, my-Miriam but you
must not talk, not ever so little. You
are better now, SO much bettor, but quiet
is essential
Tell me. then, everything, all about
it, for | can never rest until the dream
ing and the reality are separate and
distinct"
He told me then how be and Rosalie,
seeing the storm, had returned from the
picnic, and he started toward the school
house, intending to bring me home, and
found nothing but frightful mass of
brick and mortar; of how the village
had congregated. and men, women aud
children, too, had worked as never be-
fore, in agony of fear, for it was their
own flesh and blood that lay buried be-
meath.
"You escaped better than most of
them, Miriam" said Dale, in conclusion,
''and had it not been for the fever rag
ing in your veins, and in any case in-
evitable, you would not have suffered
greatly from the accident; as it is, you
have had an unquestionably severy time.
We knew this morning, Miriam" " and
there was little quiver in his voice,
"and the chances were ten to one you
would open your eyes on the other world
instead Of this. Thank God, the latter
is the case. But | knew it would be
too much for you TO hear at once" for l
had closed my eyes aud the room was
swimming around in whirl.
IL was most sweet coming back TO
life. Aunt Winnifred, gentle and con.
siderate, showing more tenderness TO-
ward me than I had deemed possible.
Rosalie, quiescent, TO say the least, for
she was clever enough TO discern that
this was the wiscst card she could play
just now and Dale Ardavan, with bis
ever thoughtful, attentive kindness, that
left nothing undone that could be done
to tempt back my old friends, health
and strength. IL was small wonder,
then, that my recovery was very rapid
One evening, a black, gloomy even
ing, too raw decidedly for mo TO venture
out for my accustomed drive. as | lay on
the luxurious easy couch that had found
its way, along with a great many other
comforts, into our humble home. the
door opened softly and Dale entered his
bright face, soaring away the gloomy
shadows gathering with the dreamy twi-
light.